Call for Nominations
Microbiology Majors:
Undergraduate Research Scholarships – 2012-13
The Department of Bacteriology will award 1 – 3 prestigious undergraduate research scholarships to Microbiology majors
for use in the 2012-13 academic year. The scholarships will be selected from: the William B. Sarles Scholarship, the
William Harmon Wright Scholarship, and the Philipp and Vera Gerhardt Undergraduate Excellence Award (more
information on each named scholarship provided below).
Purpose:
Eligibility:
Scholarship:
To provide the opportunity for UW-Madison Microbiology majors to experience first-hand the excitement
of scientific discovery by participating in the ongoing research of a UW-Madison faculty member whose
research is related to microbiology.
Microbiology majors who will be Juniors or Seniors at the time of the award and who have completed or
are enrolled in Microbio 303 and 304 (Biology of Microorganisms). Applicants must have completed at
least one semester of undergraduate research (i.e., mentor project in Zoo 152, Microbio 299 or 699, etc.).
Candidates who have other research fellowships at the time of the award are not eligible. Students may
not receive the same departmental scholarship twice.
$2,000 stipend for Fall 2012, Spring 2013, OR the 2012 eight-week Summer Session. Recipients
typically register for at least two credits of supervised research /thesis during the semester of the award.
Application Procedure: A single application packet may be submitted to be considered for any / all available research
scholarships. Please include:
1) A personal statement (maximum 350 words) on why you want to do this research and how it relates
to your future scientific career.
2) An abstract (maximum 500 words) of the proposed research. Discuss the hypotheses you are
testing. List the methods to be used to address the question and references to published work that
methods will be based on.
3) A letter of recommendation from the research sponsor of the proposed research that addresses the
reasons why you would be a good candidate for the scholarship. The letter should also describe the
collaboration between you and the sponsor in planning and conducting the research.
4) A brief description of your prior research experience(s) including the research mentor(s) and
semester/year.
5) A letter of recommendation from the sponsor of one of your previous research experiences, if
performed in a different laboratory.
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: FRIDAY, MARCH 23RD, 2012
Please submit application packet, preferably electronically, to:
Katy France (Student Services Coordinator, Dept of Bacteriology), kfrance@bact.wisc.edu; OR hard copy to
Katy France
2513 Microbial Sciences Bldg
1550 Linden Drive
Madison, WI 53706
Questions? Contact Katy at 262-2975 or kfrance@bact.wisc.edu.
William B. Sarles was a professor of Bacteriology from 1932 to 1972 and department chair from 1954-1968. The
Sarles Fund was established by colleagues and former students to honor Dr. Sarles' life work and dedication to
students through teaching and mentoring. In recognition of his teaching achievements, Dr. Sarles received the
Carski Distinguished Teaching Award from the American Society for Microbiology.
William (Windy) Wright received M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Agricultural Bacteriology from UW-Madison and was a
professor in the Department from 1909 until his death in 1929. Dr. Wright, a superb teacher, got the name
"Windy" from his students who thought he could breathe and talk at the same time. This scholarship is made
possible through the Ira N. Fender Fund to honor Mr. Fender's favorite professor, "Windy" Wright.
Philipp Gerhardt received a Ph.D. in Bacteriology from UW-Madison in 1949. Dr. Gerhardt is an Emeritus
Professor of Microbiology at Michigan State University, and wrote Methods for General and Molecular
Bacteriology. He served as President of both the American Society for Microbiology and the International Union
of Microbiological Societies.